Photo By Ernest Dove

The Texas Rangers have signed Rafael Montero to a minor league deal. With Montero missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, the Rangers do not expect him to be able to return until May or June of the 2019 season.

Montero was once a prized Mets prospect, who at one point was held in even higher esteem than Jacob deGrom. Unfortunately, things never panned out for Montero. In his career with the Mets, Montero made 30 starts and 28 relief appearances going 5-11 with a 5.38 ERA, 1.705 WHIP, and a 1.70 K/BB ratio.

Montero had falled out of favor with the Mets organization in 2015 when he complained of shoulder issues, and the team doctors were unable to find any injuries. The following Spring Training, Terry Collins told Montero the organization had to re-sign Bartolo Colon because Montero had not panned out yet as a prospect. He would be one of the first players cut in Spring Training.

Whether it was a new injury or not, the team would diagnose Montero with a torn UCL during Spring Training last season. The team carried him on the 60 day disabled list all season. One of Brodie Van Wagenen’s first moves as General Manager would be to release Montero to get the team under 40 players on the 40 man roster.